Style Elements / Giorgia

I met Giorgia 4 years ago (you remember this photo?) – and I loved her style right away, and it’s been such a pleasure to see her evolve and her confidence grow.

Here she is talking about the elements of her style…

What is your style signature?

I think my style signature is to mix menswear inspired clothes with feminine accessories. I like to keep it simple, often with black and adding minimal gold jewelry or a special pair of shoes. Classic with a twist.

If you could only choose one, what would be your:

Jean: I’m obsessed with boyfriend jeans to wear with heels. A must.Shirt: My perfect shirt is Equipment. I like the concept of having one style in many different colors. It makes me want to buy them all.Heel: Pointy pumps, lace-up ankle boots. Love Gianvito Rossi and Alaïa. So simple, so chic.Flat: Black velvet or patent leather loafers. But let me say, I’m more into heels.Bag: Flat zipped clutch. My favorite is my blue crocodile print one by Givenchy.

Lingerie: All the black lingerie from Princesse Tam Tam, not too girly but with small, cute details or basic underwear in jersey.Lipstick: Tom Ford Cherry Lush or just lip balm.Mascara:YSL Shocking.Moisturizer: Facial cream from Intégrée.Nail Polish: I like to wear red. No other colors.Fragrance: Ambre Sultan from Serge Lutens. Maybe this is my real signature, I’ve worn for forever.Shampoo: Aldo Coppola with white sugar.

How does your work as a designer influence your personal style?

This always happens. The part I like the most about being a designer is doing research in vintage shops, boutiques or in art and furniture and being constantly inspired. The result is a general change of vision, so often what I like to wear is what I then put into my designs and vice versa. I like that people can see me in what I do and create.

You travel quite a bit for work, how do you pack?

When I pack, I try to pick pieces that I can easily mix up every time in different ways, make no mistake, they’re almost all black. The most difficult part comes when I have to choose the shoes, I don’t know how to control myself.

What is your daily beauty routine?

The first thing I do in the morning is drink a coffee, then I can start my beauty routine, which isn’t too long. After showering, I use my facial and body creams, then I spritz on my Serge Lutens perfume, put on some makeup and I’m ready to go!

What do you add to make a look go from day to night?

Switch from flat shoes to heels and add a more smokey eye and mascara.

What are three things every woman should have in her closet?

A Chanel bag, a pair of black leather pants and a dress from Alaïa.

The best style advice you ever received:

To change my eyeglasses and buy a new pair in dark tortoise by Céline. I used to wear them only when I’m at home but after I got this new pair I cannot take them off my face. I love them.

One fashion rule you love to break:

I’ll tell you what is breaking MY personal fashion rules. Since I’m always wearing black in all sorts of shapes and materials, for me breaking the rules it is to wear some pieces from Dries Van Noten, his creations are often the opposite. He’s the only one that makes me melt with his prints and colors.

What is your prized possession?

I inherited a gold bangle with a Scorpio charm from my grandmother. We are both Scorpios and she passed away years ago. This is definitely my one and only real treasure.

Thank you for doing interviews like this! I always wonder how women get such a distinct style, and often it comes down to keeping things simple for the most part, then working in small changes here and there. I used to think it was impossible to look this chic…but maybe not?

Thank you for doing these interviews! I always thought style was something complicated and hard to pin down, but really it just boils down to living in your favorite things, and finding small ways to change things up now and again. Now, if only I could look at cool in glasses…then we’d be all set!

Dear Garance, could you please also portray women who wear a FR 42 or more even though they are less than 1,75 high? The women you meet are always fairly skinny. I start to doubt about myself: Am I the only woman in the world who is always hungry? Am I the only Rubens-figure-person in the world who is interested in fashion?

Dear Stephanie, I am myself pretty curvy right now and always hungry – check out my videos :)
I don’t choose people according to wether they are skinny or not, and I am very conscious of what you’re talking about, don’t worry. I’ll do my best.

I am back on my huge glasses soapbox. This lady looks fantastic and her retro glasses fit close to perfectly, well almost. Ladies and gentleman, look for a fit where your eyes are in the middle of the frame. It’s all about the bridge of your nose controlling the fit up or down.